Red Ironbark

Red Ironbark 'Rosea' (Eucalyptus sideroxylon 'Rosea') is the pink flowering form of one of Australia's most useful hard country gums. It grows to about 12m tall and 8m wide, with deeply furrowed near black bark, blue grey foliage and clusters of pink to red flowers through the cooler months. If you have the space and want a tree that shrugs off heat, frost, drought and poor ground, this is it.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when nectar is scarce. Pink to red blossom through winter and early spring, exactly when honeyeaters and lorikeets need it most.
• Bark you notice all year. The dark, deeply grooved trunk contrasts with the blue grey canopy and gives presence out of flower.
• Tough across most of the country. Frost hardy, heat and drought tolerant, and productive on poor, shallow, rocky soils that defeat exotic shade trees.
• Real shade without density. The open canopy casts dappled light, so lawn and understorey planting still grow underneath.

Where it works best

Shade trees on larger blocks. Give it at least 8m of clear space from buildings, paving and service lines, because the spread and root system both need room.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart along a drive for an even rhythm of trunks. Closer spacing lifts the canopies but crowds the crowns as they mature.

Windbreaks and rural shelter. A staggered double row at 8m spacing filters wind across a paddock rather than creating turbulence behind a solid wall.

Growing Red Ironbark in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It performs across warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens, covering most of inland and southern Australia. Frost is no obstacle once it is planted. The one caution is the humid coastal tropics, outside its natural range.

Soil. Undemanding. Shallow, gravelly, sandy and clay loam soils all suit it, and it tolerates low fertility better than most trees. It will not accept waterlogging, so avoid ground that stays wet after rain.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to drive roots down, then it looks after itself. Feeding is rarely needed; if you do, use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Formative pruning in the first three years sets a straight leader and lifts the canopy clear of vehicles. After that, remove damaged wood only. Expect bark and leaf litter beneath it, normal for the species.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes: 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, and single plants in 300mm, 400mm and 45L. The smaller grades suit a shelter belt or long avenue, since young eucalypts establish fast and often overtake larger stock within three years. The 400mm and 45L give height on day one for a feature tree.

Trees are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect strong growth from the first full spring, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing trees for a driveway or avenue
• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Bird attracting plants for Australian gardens

Common questions

How big does it really get?

About 12m tall and 8m wide in a garden setting, over roughly fifteen to twenty years. It is not a small block tree, and it should not go within 8m of a house or a sewer line.

How fast does it grow?

Around a metre a year once established in a sunny position with reasonable subsoil moisture. Growth is slower on very shallow rock and in the first year after planting.

Does it drop bark and branches?

It sheds leaves and small bark pieces year round, which is normal for a eucalypt. Formative pruning and removing narrow forks early reduce the risk of larger limb failure later.

When does it start flowering?

Usually from about the fourth or fifth year in the ground, through winter into early spring.